So this is normal? Odd that I haven't noticed it over the last 5 years....why would the fan run at such a high rpm at start up as in what is the purpose behind it? Also, why does it not stop until I shut down the vehicle and then start it back up again?

Update- so fan replaced...not cheap. Fan is not as loud, however, still coming on high at start. most of the time it goes away but today it stayed on high for a couple miles so i pulled over shut it down and started back up and it was gone.

thermostat sensor? water pump going?

im kinda of upset that i had to pay so much for the fan and it wasnt really the source of the problem.

I had the maintenance plan to 100K so i did the CBS stuff as called for at the dealership up to then, nothing special leading up to 100K.

After 100K and out of pocket... i did the rear brakes and rotors. I flushed the engine coolant just after 100K. Changed power steering fluid at the same time. I am going to flush brake fluid and bleed when i get some free time this month. Oil and filter changes on CBS schedule and an extra one in between, so about every 7000 miles. Air filter and MAF cleaner done at 120K.

ATF is original, i am on the wall about whether i should mess with it now or leave it since i am passed the window of opportunity.

I hear ya about the ATF fluid that is something that concerns me as well. Have you thought about replacing your water pump before it fails?

Back to my high running fan at startup. Isn't it odd that it runs high when engine is cold?

I have thought about it, but I kind of want to run it until it does die just to see what kind of miles I get out of it. I don't drive far from home often so it wouldn't be the end of the world to use my AAA if i did get stuck. Now that you mention it, if i have an out of state trip and don't end up renting a vehicle, I may go ahead and change it out for peace of mind.

is it doing it even with the AC compressor off. maybe you could try leaving your AC compressor off before you startup and see if it stills does it.

I have thought about it, but I kind of want to run it until it does die just to see what kind of miles I get out of it. I don't drive far from home often so it wouldn't be the end of the world to use my AAA if i did get stuck. Now that you mention it, if i have an out of state trip and don't end up renting a vehicle, I may go ahead and change it out for peace of mind.

is it doing it even with the AC compressor off. maybe you could try leaving your AC compressor off before you startup and see if it stills does it.

Change your oil filter housing gasket too. They are known to fail on BMWs and chunk into the coolant system, damaging the propeller in the pump.

I have thought about it, but I kind of want to run it until it does die just to see what kind of miles I get out of it. I don't drive far from home often so it wouldn't be the end of the world to use my AAA if i did get stuck. Now that you mention it, if i have an out of state trip and don't end up renting a vehicle, I may go ahead and change it out for peace of mind.

is it doing it even with the AC compressor off. maybe you could try leaving your AC compressor off before you startup and see if it stills does it.

AC is always off. I always turn it off before shut down as a habit so it is never on at startup. Strange, dont you think?